A new chapter begins for Brockport women’s lacrosse

By: Zach Harnischfeger

BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- The Brockport Golden Eagles women’s lacrosse team was defeated by the Cortland Red Dragons in the SUNYAC Semi-Finals on May 1, 2024, ending their season. This would be their last ever game as members of the SUNYAC.

For the 2025 season, the Golden Eagles will be the new kids on the block of the Empire 8 Conference along with SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Senior midfielder Sarah Kilburn is excited to start a new journey in the Empire 8 Conference.

“It’s always a new step going into a new conference,” Kilburn said. “A lot of the returners, having a year of play together, know how each other works and this past fall we all learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses very quickly. As a team, we’re all super confident going into this new conference. It’s a new chapter and a fresh start.”

Sarah Kilburn with the ball during a game last season. (Brockport Athletics)

Kilburn is entering her second season with the Golden Eagles. She was a SUNYAC third team All-Conference selection last season and recorded a team-best 70 draw controls, which was eighth in the SUNYAC, as well as finishing with 30 points, 27 goals and three assists, which was fourth on the team. She was recently named captain of the team for the 2025 season along with three other players.

“It’s a good honor to have,” Kilburn said. “Last year was my first year here at Brockport and to be recognized as a leader so soon, off the bat, it’s a pretty good feeling. I’m pretty honored to do that and be able to lead the team and be that person for the underclassmen and freshman to look up to and come to when they need.”

Along with Kilburn, the Golden Eagles have five SUNYAC All-Conference players returning to the team. Senior attacker Alayna Foos was named first team All-Conference and was a second team All-Region selection last season. She set career highs in points (66), goals (52) and assists (14).

Alayna Foos looking for the ball during a game last season on April 4, 2024. (Brockport Athletics/Liv Metz)

Junior defender Journey Naab, sophomore defender Kaeli McCarthy, and sophomore goalie Arianna Reed are all returning to the team. All three of them were SUNYAC third team All-Conference selections last season.

Sophomore attacker Tristan Davis is also returning to the team. Last season she made third team All-Conference and was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. Davis finished third on the team with 40 total points and was second on the team with 45 draw controls.

“The awards are cool but there is still so much more to achieve,” Davis said. “So now this year take what everyone is saying, absorb it, but also focus and improve on stepping into more of a leadership role on and off the field for the team and be that person for the younger girls to get information from even with just the year difference. Just really trusting the process and the results will show.”

Tristan Davis looking to pass during a game last season on Mar. 3, 2024. (Brockport Athletics/Liv Metz)

Davis is looking forward to the upcoming season and is confident that her and the team will achieve all of their goals.

“Championship run and NCAA’s, that’s what you are going to hear from literally any athlete ever,” Davis said. “I have the goals written down, and that is usually every single year going into it. You’ll see with the goals because usually I’ll get them.”

Head coach Bryana Glasser is entering her third season with the program. She is confident that the returners will grow even more from last year to this year.

“I see them taking on a lot more than they did last year,” Glasser said. “I think they have continued to get better. They have continued to work on their game in the offseason and everything else. I am really looking forward to what it is that they do.”

Glasser is highly impressed with what she has seen from all the new faces on the team so far.

“They showed up prepared and they’re really talented,” Glasser said. “We’re really lucky, we hit the jackpot with a lot of them. I just think of how far we've come in the last three years that I've been here. It's really exciting. The expectations are set and they know what they were getting into and they came in ready to compete and ready to play. Competition breeds better playing, so it's really important that we have more people on the roster in order to compete at practice and get better.”

The Golden Eagles season opener is on Saturday, Feb. 22 when they travel to Ithaca to take on the Bombers for some non-conference action. Face-off is set for 1 p.m.